Articles

OLYMPICS DAY 3

THURSDAY 2nd AUGUST 2012
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Photo credit: Richard Langdon/RYA

With the event really gathering pace, both Nick Dempsey and Bryony Shaw are fighting hard for Olympic glory.
Today see's typical UK conditions, grey clouds, rain, gusty winds and dark clouds. Wind forecast 15-20 knots.

This is when grit and determination are key. They need the concentration of a chess master and the fitness of an endurance athlete.
Their coaches have been asking for solid performances and no mistakes. As the pressure builds, you don't want a bad race.

The courses have been 'Windward -Leeward' courses, which mean an upwind start, then beat up to and round the windward mark.
This is followed by some gut wrenching pumping downwind on screaming broad reaches if the wind is marginal.
Once they get planing they lock in to the harness and blast fast, just like a Freerider, but pushing, driving and locking it down for every possible gain in speed.
Close observers will see their incredibly straight stances when the wind is light, that Straight 7 stance coming into play!
Then when the wind or higher speeds kick in, they sink lower into the harness, dropping and digging to lock that 220L RSX down on the Weymouth chop.

After the upwind leg, they then have a 5 buoy mini slalom at the finish. Nick seems to excel on the downwind legs, Bryony has been tactically making gains on the upwind legs.
They have both been going for conservative starts in the middle of the line. Some of their competitors have been taking riskier 'pin end' starts, which if you don't get away well, the whole fleet can sail over you.

It's all going to really ramp up today as they move past the mid way stage of the event.

Nick will be looking to put pressure on those above him.

Bryony will be keen to move up into medal positions.

RESULTS

In the men's Netherlands still dominate, but Nick has had a much better day yesterday, just what he would have wished for. A couple of better starts, some blinding boardspeed downwind and once again, no mistakes. With a 5th in the first race of the day, it was a real nail bitter of a finish in the second race, with Nick sneaking 1st place right on the line. Nick's spectacular photo finish in the second race has moved him up to 3rd overall.

Men RSX Current standings

1st Dorian Van Rijssleberge NED
2nd Przemyslaw Miarczynski POLAND
3rd NICK DEMPSEY

Bryony is sailing well, but not at her best, with consistent results in the top 6. This currently puts her at 6th overall.
She know's she has more to give and all it takes is one good day to suddenly make big gains. No one give more determination to the cause the Bryony.
She loves a tough, physical race. Today could just be that. She has a lot to do to address Spanish domination in the Women's RSX fleet.

Women RSX Current standings

1st Marina Alabau Neira SPAIN
2nd Lee-El KORSIZ ISRAEL
3rd Moana Delle GERMANY
6th BRYONY SHAW